View Full Version : Which brand of power compact?
I need an inexpensive PC to replace my bulky shop lights. I have a low-tech 55 gallon and am looking for something that will give me around 2W/G -- so probably just something with 2x55w or 2x65w. I am looking at a Coralife, JBJ, All-Glass and possibly an inexpensive JEBO. Your thoughts or experience?
Harlock
04-07-2005, 5:55 PM
I can comment on the Coralife. I own one, (a 24 inch 1 x 65W) and am pleased as punch with it. I recommend it if it's in your price range. It's designed well. Aluminum housing dissipates heat well (and there is not detectable heat in the tank to speak of, my heaters still come on) and the acrylic cover over the light is really handy if you simply want to place the strip over an open top.
Blinky
04-07-2005, 8:19 PM
I've got a GE fixture and a Satellite, very pleased with both. There are links to info about both in my my specs page if you'd like more info, click on my sig. link.
The Satellite is well made, has a fan, aluminum housing, and separate switches/cords for the fan, moonlight, and each bulb (so you can have each bulb on a separate timer if you like). The GE comes with fabulous bulbs (GE 9325K) that the plants seem to love.
mcps95
04-08-2005, 9:09 AM
I second the recommendation for the Coralife. I have the FW version of the 48" 2x65W. This model has no fan, making it completely silent, and is extremely well built.
Skip the All-Glass. It's HUGE and is cheaply made. I sent mine back immediately after opening the box and purchased the Coralife instead. Very happy I did!
Be sure to get the FW version (green box) of the Coralife strip light. The SW version (orange/red box) has 50/50 bulbs which won't be effective for a FW tank, and you'll end up having to replace them with rather pricey bulbs.
Mike
Kissofthegorami
04-10-2005, 3:34 PM
Coralife would be the "eheim canister" of the lighting world. If you can afford it, get it. Satellite is good too. All glass and GE are ok. Jebo are cheapest and at the bottom.
Blinky
04-10-2005, 4:28 PM
I actually chose my Satellite over a Coralife fixture specifically because of the lack of fan and moonlight - my 96W PC bulbs put out a fair amount of heat, much more than the 55s, and I'm very glad I got a fixture with separate switches for each bulb, an aluminum housing and a fan. Unfortunately, I can't really use the moonlight because the centre brace blocks it :(
All these fixtures work, I think it's largely a matter of preference concerning the smaller details.
Thanks so much for your replies! After some further research, AND your wonderful insights, I think I will end up going with the Coralife. The Satellite was a close second, but I have to say that I am not a fan of ... well, the fan! I don't think it will be really that necessary with a 2x65 and I am trying to keep as much light in the tank as possible. (With the shoplights I've been using, I am tired of seeing lights everywhere but inside of my tank!) Besides, when I looked into getting a new filter, I could go with nothing less then an eheim canister, so if coralife is the eheim's lighting equivalent...well, need I say more? :D
Anyhow, I had a few quick questions about it. Right now I just have a shoplight with 2 40W bulbs @ 6500K each and the 2 wimpy 15W strips the tank came with. How much brighter should I expect my new Coralife to be? (BTW, I plan on getting the freshwater version which comes with 6700K lamps.) The second question is kind of silly. In the pictures, the hood looks like a gold/bronze color. Is that what it really is? In some other pictures, it looks silver. Anyone have pics to share? Thanks so much!
Captain Hook
04-11-2005, 4:15 AM
If you want to build some kind of wooden canopy for it, I think www.ahsupply.com is worth looking into.
scottracy
04-11-2005, 5:31 AM
CORALIFE is a good choice. I use them on 3 of my tanks. I run a 2 X 65W, 4 X 65W and a 2 X 9W. The color is a very subdued metallic color. Take a look at my tank specs for pics. The 2 X 9W is black. Bigals has the best prices for CORALIFE. Good luck!
Swimfins
04-11-2005, 7:56 AM
Thanks so much for your replies! After some further research, AND your wonderful insights, I think I will end up going with the Coralife. The Satellite was a close second, but I have to say that I am not a fan of ... well, the fan! I don't think it will be really that necessary with a 2x65 and I am trying to keep as much light in the tank as possible. (With the shoplights I've been using, I am tired of seeing lights everywhere but inside of my tank!) Besides, when I looked into getting a new filter, I could go with nothing less then an eheim canister, so if coralife is the eheim's lighting equivalent...well, need I say more? :D
Anyhow, I had a few quick questions about it. Right now I just have a shoplight with 2 40W bulbs @ 6500K each and the 2 wimpy 15W strips the tank came with. How much brighter should I expect my new Coralife to be? (BTW, I plan on getting the freshwater version which comes with 6700K lamps.) The second question is kind of silly. In the pictures, the hood looks like a gold/bronze color. Is that what it really is? In some other pictures, it looks silver. Anyone have pics to share? Thanks so much!
I recommend the Jebo. Mine was inexpensive, comes without a fan, and I can grow anything under this light. Myrophilium (difficult) is responding an inch a week. I have 4x 10000K bulbs. I alsu use a 40 watt strip that I had on hand. You can buy a cheap 2 bulb strip at walmart, that will fit the top along with the jebo. You can up your wattage for less than 100US dollars. Its a bargain. I don't need fans. My jebo seldom gets hotter than warm to touch, its slim, compact and I don't see why you should pay more. :) The jebbo is 220 watt total. A light strip with an extra bulb is optional if you want higher watts. On a 55g, th 220 watt should be fine.
mcps95
04-11-2005, 9:06 AM
tfish,
The color is more silver than gold/bronze (I was thrown off by this initially as well). Think of an aluminum can with a matte finish.
As for brightness, it'd be a little hard to gauge that with any sort of accuracy. It's safe to say that it will be brighter, but how much brighter is really up to personal interpretation. I find them to be very bright (think car headlights), but I was upgrading from 30W.
Mike
Mooch28
04-11-2005, 10:43 AM
Coralife are excellent, but the small fans can get a tad noisy. The satalites i believe have bigger fans, so they produce less noise (db). Either way, both are great lights, and the noise difference is minimal, unless of course your a noise freak, well then id suggest the Satalite. :p
Personally i own the Coralife, and have had zero problems. Also there service is excellent!, something too always consider imo. When i got my unit i had a faulty ballast, well i they sent me a new one within a week, plus 4 brand new bulbs without asking for any proof of blowing the old ones (which i did due to bad ballast)!
JBJ are also very good i hear, and they also have bigger fans.
Id stay away from the Jebo's though, unless of course money is an issue. Im a strong believer in "what you pay, is what you get" Far to many experiences with this statement........
mcps95
04-11-2005, 10:52 AM
Mooch,
Note that not all the Coralife models have fans. The 2x65W does not have fans. The 4x65W and 2x96W do have fans.
Mike
Mooch28
04-11-2005, 10:55 AM
Mooch,
Note that not all the Coralife models have fans. The 2x65W does not have fans. The 4x65W and 2x96W do have fans.
Mike
Your absolutely right. The one i purchsed, 4x65 does, but i do recal some models not coming with a fan as you say. Thank for clarifying that Mike!
Note to poster: Get a light with a fan if possible!
Swimfins
04-11-2005, 12:03 PM
Coralife are excellent, but the small fans can get a tad noisy. The satalites i believe have bigger fans, so they produce less noise (db). Either way, both are great lights, and the noise difference is minimal, unless of course your a noise freak, well then id suggest the Satalite. :p
Personally i own the Coralife, and have had zero problems. Also there service is excellent!, something too always consider imo. When i got my unit i had a faulty ballast, well i they sent me a new one within a week, plus 4 brand new bulbs without asking for any proof of blowing the old ones (which i did due to bad ballast)!
JBJ are also very good i hear, and they also have bigger fans.
Id stay away from the Jebo's though, unless of course money is an issue. Im a strong believer in "what you pay, is what you get" Far to many experiences with this statement........
I don't know where you get off saying "stay away from Jebo" if your not using one lol. Mine is just gr8 and plants are fine, no probs with it, no fans to break down. My heater actually has to work less as well. Water is maintained at 78F Its slim, compact and attractive. So, I ask? WHY PAY MORE?
And beware Mooch, people willing to shell out money for supposedly 'superior' products easily get ripped. It is just a ballast, housing and reflector actually.... Unless your counting the quality of the fan and most I've heard have a whirring sound that I find annoying. :p
Mooch28
04-11-2005, 12:07 PM
I don't know where you get off saying "stay away from Jebo" if your not using one lol. Mine is just gr8 and plants are fine, no probs with it, no fans to break down. My heater actually has to work less as well. Water is maintained at 78F Its slim, compact and attractive. So, I ask? WHY PAY MORE?
Sorry, didnt mean to make it sound all that bad. Its just that a friend of mine got one just recently, and couldn't keep his water temperatures below 77. The light kept the tank water warm all the time. Just passing along what he told me, so that why i advise units with fans........
Like you say though, i have zero experience personally with Jebo :p
Hey im aware, im only been ripped off what, 10 or so times? :thud:
Swimfins
04-11-2005, 12:10 PM
I suppose it does depend upon room ventilation, size of th tank and water capacity of course. My room happens to be large, airy and coolish. :argue:
Hehehhehe :p
Mooch28
04-11-2005, 12:11 PM
I suppose it does depend upon room ventilation, size of th tank and water capacity of course. My room happens to be large, airy and coolish. :argue:
Hehehhehe :p
Ya probably. Also having your tank by a window and living in a cold climate like Canada has some effect as well.
:look:
hehe, love the new avatars by the way!
Swimfins
04-11-2005, 12:19 PM
:hang: me too just hanging in :laugh: